Blanco's development validates Royals' commitment to Venezuela

Posted on Sun, Mar. 30, 2003 By BOB DUTTON The Kansas City Star

Anyone who has ever tried to impose their advice on a skeptical boss can identify with a baseball scout. He believes he can see something no one else does.

That was the case three years ago when Albert Gonzalez tried to persuade Royals general manager Allard Baird to shell out a few thousand bucks on a slow, small, skinny kid from Urama, Venezuela, named Andres Blanco.

"Allard, I really like this kid," Gonzalez said. "He can't run a lick, but he's got great hands. Get ready. Because when he's eligible to sign, I'm going to need a little money."

When Blanco turned 16 in 2000, Gonzalez renewed his plea. He wanted $4,000 to land the kid on a free-agent contract. Now, $4,000 is not just peanuts -- it's peanut shells in terms of a top American draft pick.

But it's big money for an unknown player along the back roads of Latin America, where talent is abundant but so raw that even the keenest of scouting eyes often resorts to simple gut instinct.

Gonzalez had that instinct about Blanco, having made a first-hand assessment in following up on the recommendation of Venezuelan scouting supervisor Juan Indriago.

Baird took a closer look and saw a kid who was maybe 5-feet-8 and not even 140 pounds. OK, he figured, kids fill out. But when he heard that Blanco's speed was 7.3 seconds for 60 yards, Baird threw up his hands.

"Albert, I can't have a shortstop for the Kansas City Royals who runs 7.3," Baird said. "There's no way."

But Gonzalez, then in his second year as the club's scouting director for Latin America, kept pushing.

"Allard, I'm telling you," Gonzalez said, "I think he's going to get quicker."

Baird couldn't get past that ponderous 7.3 time for the 60.

"Allard, I'm telling you," Gonzalez persisted, "I have a good feeling about this kid. I think he's going to be a player."

A former scout himself, Baird knew that feeling, how a certain helplessness engulfs you when you see something special slipping away because you can't find the right words to make your case.

"Albert, tell me when he's going to be ready to play in the big leagues and help us win ballgames," Baird challenged. "And that must mean that his speed is better."

Gonzalez swallowed and said, "Allard, he'll be there by 2004."

Baird nodded. "OK, you've got your money."

III

Venezuela has long been a hotbed for talent in the Caribbean.

Blanco is one of roughly 20 Venezuelans in the Royals' minor-league system. The list includes infielders Alejandro Machado and Luis Ordaz, each of whom spent time this spring in the major-league camp.

"If you make a comparison of numbers," Royals scouting director Deric Ladnier said, "the Dominican Republic is still the top place in Latin America. But Venezuela is No. 2."

But Venezuela also has always been a dangerous place to search for talent.

"When I was with the Braves," Ladnier recalled, "we had a kid, named Blanco, ironically. I saw him pitch one day, and the next day he was dead. Got shot in the back of the head over a gold chain when he got mugged.

"You hear about (Astros outfielder Richard) Hidalgo and the car-jacking. It's just a volatile situation. But we're still scouting Venezuela."

The U.S. State Department now advises Americans to avoid Venezuela because of the civil unrest created by opposition to the leftist government of President Hugo Chavez.

The Royals, accordingly, no longer send scouts into Venezuela. Even Gonzalez doesn't venture into the country from his base at the Royals' academy in the Dominican Republic.

"When the government sends out a memo saying it's not safe for Americans," Ladnier said, "then, obviously, we have to take heed of that."

But Indriago is still in Caracas. Two other part-time scouts, Maracay Aragua and Estado Anzuategui, continue to search for talent.

"We now have to rely on our local people," Ladnier said, "but it's even more challenging for them because of the gas shortage (caused by an oil workers' strike against the government)."

It's also difficult just to get supplies into Venezuela.

"FedEx stopped delivering down there," Ladnier said. "We brought one of our Venezuelan scouts in to spring training and loaded him down with equipment because we didn't know if we could get equipment down to him."

But ask Ladnier if the added effort is worth it, and he doesn't hesitate.

"Talent is talent," he said. "It's far more challenging than it used to be, but you're still intrigued by wanting to get the talent."

III

Andres Blanco won't turn 19 until next month, but at 5-feet-10 and 155 pounds, he now shows clear signs of starting to fill out. His speed is down to 6.8 for the 60 -- still slow, but acceptable.

And those marvelously soft hands that so intrigued Gonzalez? Blanco's defensive skills are now being likened to Cleveland's Omar Vizquel, a nine-time Gold Glove winner.

"Let's be honest," Baird said. "I didn't know if Blanco was going to get faster. But that scout believed, and that scout was the key because Blanco did get faster.

"At 7.3, almost nobody is going to sign him. But if we wait until he's running a 6.8 to sign him, we've got no chance."

Blanco is rated by Baseball America as the club's best minor-league infield prospect. He could indeed be ready for the majors by 2004.